# NTSB ANC10CA086: Roberts Alan W Kitfox II, N598AL, Fairbanks, AK, September 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2010, 17:00 local (Sep 11, 2010, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.453613, -147.563613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.4536&lon=-147.5636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 77265 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77265/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77265 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA086 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper aircraft control during landing and the subsequent go-around, resulting in a hard landing, and a collision with a signpost. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Roberts Alan W KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=056164P), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Roberts Alan W KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056164P), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Roberts Alan W KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056164P), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Roberts Alan W KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056164P), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Roberts Alan W KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056164P), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Roberts Alan W KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056164P), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was on a personal local flight, operating under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane landed hard, and bounced back into the air. He said he added power to go around, but the airplane drifted left of the runway, and the right wing struck a signpost. He said the airplane spun around the post, and impacted the ground. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to its right wing. ## Factual narrative The private pilot was on a personal local flight, operating under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane landed hard, and bounced back into the air. He said he added power to go around, but the airplane drifted left of the runway, and the right wing struck a signpost. He said the airplane spun around the post, and impacted the ground. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to its right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N598AL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N598AL), registered now, S/N 598, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBERTS ALAN W KITFOX II - Registry model: [Roberts Alan W KITFOX II](https://openairdocs.org/model/roberts-alan-w-kitfox-ii) (registry code 056164P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 598 - Airframe hours: 340 - Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL) 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles Whitmer - Registered owner: Lyle Whitmer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 8, 2010 - Departed: MTF, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: MTF, Fairbanks, AK - Airport: MTF, Metro Field, runway 06, 4,600 × 30 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 12, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 74 total, 6 in this make and model, 16 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FAI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100910049449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100910049449A), Sep 10, 2010: Roberts Ala KITFOX II, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot approached high then flared high. Pilot stated he did not apply enough coordinated rudder to counteract the impending stall. Aircraft stalled, landed… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77265. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338400&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.